10 Best Marvel Stories of the ‘10s

In the 2000s, Marvel Comics managed to bounce back from the chaos of the ’90s with a fresh start. Under the leadership of new editor-in-chief Joe Quesada, the company was rebuilt from scratch, attracting some of the most talented writers and artists in the comic book industry. Quesada played a significant role in creating the event cycle that became synonymous with Marvel during this period, delivering popular titles such as “New X-Men,” “New Avengers,” “House of M,” “Civil War,” “Planet Hulk,” “Secret Invasion,” “Enemy of the State,” “Ultimate Spider-Man,” “Ultimate X-Men,” “The Ultimates,” and countless others. While the 2000s Marvel wasn’t flawless – with the controversial storyline “One More Day” causing ongoing controversy among fans for the past two decades – it was an exciting time for the publisher, allowing them to seize the number one spot in sales and hold onto it ever since.

Moving into the 2010s, Marvel held a strong hand and made strategic moves. However, this decade was not without challenges for the publisher, particularly in their publishing initiatives such as All-New Marvel NOW! and All-New, All-Different Marvel. Yet, the 2010s also produced some exceptional comics from Marvel. These range from epic event stories to notable runs on characters like Avengers, Fantastic Four, Thor, Wolverine, and many others. These Marvel stories of the 2010s are undoubtedly the best of the decade.

10) Jason Aaron’s Thor’s Saga (The Whole Thing)

In a straightforward manner, I’d rephrase your text as follows:

Jason Aaron’s work on the Thor series is simply outstanding from start to finish. Starting with “Thor: God of Thunder” and progressing into “The Mighty Thor” (Vol. 2) and “The Unworthy Thor,” Aaron crafted a remarkable saga around the God of Thunder and his successor, leaving readers completely captivated. The storyline “The God-Butcher” introduced Gorr the God-Butcher and was created in collaboration with artists like Esad Ribic, Olivier Coipel, Russell Dauterman, among others. This epic tale offers everything a Thor fan could ever wish for.

In “Original Sin,” Aaron stripped Thor of his worthiness to Mjolnir, paving the way for “The Mighty Thor” (Vol. 2), where Jane Foster assumed the role of Thor and soared to new heights. This period in Thor’s history represents the peak of his character development and comes close to perfection. If you are new to Thor or an existing fan looking to delve deeper into his world, this is the perfect place to begin. Don’t miss out on this masterful Marvel work that will undoubtedly captivate any fan.

9) Avengers : “Original Sin”

The selection of Jonathan Hickman’s work on the Avengers stands out as exceptional, and the tale spanning issues #29-34 in ‘Avengers’ (Vol. 5), penned by Hickman and Leinil Yu, is a noteworthy addition to this list. This storyline, titled “Original Sin,” follows an event that led to the demise of the Watcher, unveiling many hidden truths about our favorite superheroes.

This narrative echoes the early issues of ‘New Avengers’ (#1-4), where Captain America joined the Illuminati, only to have his memory erased after stopping the first Incursion, which resulted in the annihilation of the Infinity Gauntlet. This group was warned by Cap that they would refrain from immoral acts. Later, as he recalls what happened to him, Captain America teams up with Hawkeye, Black Widow, Thor, and Hyperion to confront Iron Man.

However, the Time Gem intervenes, propelling Cap’s team through time. Each issue presents the group appearing at different junctures in Avengers history, as they strive to understand the situation, stop it, and determine what alterations have been made to the Avengers. This is top-tier superhero science fiction, crafted only by Hickman, and ranks among his finest works.

8) The Red Right Hand Saga

Jason Aaron’s impressive tenure with Marvel Comics during the 2010s included notable runs on several titles, with his work on Wolverine significantly boosting his profile. The Red Right Hand Saga, his standout Wolverine story, is a testament to why Wolverine consistently ranks among Marvel’s top heroes. Spanning issues #1-14 of the fourth volume of Wolverine, this story features art by Renato Guedes and Daniel Acuna, and follows Wolverine as his soul is sent to Hell while a demon assumes control over his body. Faced with the challenge of escaping before the demonic Wolverine can harm his X-Men friends, Logan embarks on a quest for vengeance that highlights both his indomitable spirit and the tragic consequences of his rage. Aaron’s masterful handling of the character is evident in this story, making it a must-read for fans. The art by Guedes and Acuna is outstanding, delivering thrilling action scenes alongside poignant emotional storytelling that truly captures the essence of Wolverine as he should be experienced. Additionally, readers may also enjoy Aaron’s other notable works on Wolverine, such as his Wolverine: Weapon X series and the rest of his run through Wolverine (Vol. 4) and beyond. The final twist is sure to leave you speechless.

7) Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four/FF Run

Jonathan Hickman initially made a name for himself at Image Comics with notable series like “The Nightly News” and “Pax Romana,” which eventually caught the eye of Marvel. At Marvel, Hickman penned titles such as “Secret Warriors” and “The Ultimates,” ultimately landing him the Fantastic Four. With an extraordinary run that many consider the best Fantastic Four series of the 21st century, Hickman wrote issues #570-588 of “Fantastic Four (Vol. 1),” followed by #1-23 of “FF,” and then returning to “Fantastic Four (Vol. 1)” for issues #600-611. During this time, he collaborated with numerous artists such as Dale Easglesham, Steve Epting, and many others. Hickman’s skill in science fiction allowed him to create a Fantastic Four series that evokes the spirit of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee from the Silver Age, blending grand sci-fi ideas and the familial dynamics of the Fantastic Four. If you enjoyed “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” this is the next Fantastic Four story you should explore (while Kirby and Lee’s “Fantastic Four” is excellent, it may be more suitable for readers who have already developed a love for comics; Silver Age books differ greatly from modern ones).

6) “Avengers World”

Marvel NOW! emerged following the “Avengers vs. X-Men” saga, marking the end of Brian Michael Bendis’ tenure as the writer of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. While many extol the Bendis era of the Avengers, some consider it to be overly praised. Bendis often opted for a more earthbound approach with the team, which left some fans feeling unsatisfied (including me; I’m part of that group, but not alone). However, the arrival of Jonathan Hickman as the writer was a welcome change and began with “Avengers World” from Avengers (Vol. 5) #1-3, co-written by Hickman and Jerome Opena. New villains Ex Nihilo and Abyss, originating from Mars, launch evolutionary missiles at six strategic locations on Earth. The Avengers respond promptly but are defeated, with only Captain America managing to escape and activate the Avengers Machine – a concept he and Iron Man had conceived earlier to assemble the most powerful teams of Avengers yet. This three-issue story encapsulates everything one could desire from an Avengers comic, and it will rekindle your love for the team like never before. Opena’s artwork is breathtaking, perfectly translating Hickman’s intricate script into captivating visuals on the page.

5) Infinity

Jonathan Hickman’s story titled Infinity, penned during his prolific decade at Marvel, serves as a midpoint in his Avengers saga. This narrative unfolds as a cosmic conflict engulfs the Avengers, who are summoned to protect numerous alien empires from the Builders – an ancient race of aliens intent on annihilating everything, with Earth as their final target. Simultaneously, Thanos embarks on an attack on Earth, in pursuit of a coveted object he’s been ruthlessly seeking throughout the cosmos.

The initial six issues of Infinity, authored by Hickman, Jerome Opena, Dustin Weaver, and Jim Cheung, offer a captivating narrative that warrants further exploration through reading Avengers (Vol. 5) #18-23, illustrated by Leinil Yu, and New Avengers (Vol. 3) #9-12, with art by Mike Deodato. Fortunately, many collected editions encompass Infinity, Avengers, and New Avengers. This tale stretches the boundaries of what a science fiction superhero epic can achieve, and represents an Avengers saga that develops the foundations laid in “The Kree-Skrull War” and “Operation: Galactic Storm” into something extraordinary.

4) New Avengers (Vol. 3) #16-21

The third volume of Hickman’s “New Avengers” stands out as the most exceptional “New Avengers” series to date. I wholeheartedly endorse diving into the entire series (notably Hickman’s “Avengers”), but the most captivating storyline can be found in issues #16-21 of “New Avengers” (Vol. 3). Penned by Hickman, Rags Morales, and Dustin Weaver, this arc introduces a pivotal moment for the Illuminati.

Since the series’ beginning, the Illuminati had been grappling with Incursions, each time narrowly avoiding the use of their last resort – anti-matter warheads to obliterate the other Earth. A new technology called “The Bridge” allows Black Panther and Namor to witness the Great Society of Earth-4,209,001, a team reminiscent of DC’s Justice League, successfully thwart an Incursion without destroying a planet. This hopeful encounter encourages the heroes, but their optimism is quickly shattered when another Incursion sets them on a collision course with an alternate Earth.

This storyline marks a significant turning point for the Illuminati and presents a moral dilemma central to “New Avengers,” placing it squarely in the reader’s hands. It’s a riveting tale that may alter your perspective on certain Illuminati members.

3) House of X/Powers of X

In the 2010s, being an X-Men fan wasn’t particularly enjoyable due to Marvel’s inability to produce films featuring mutants. This led to the X-Men comics being relegated to a less prominent position. However, this all changed when Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, giving Marvel control over the X-Men. Marvel then handed the X-Men over to Jonathan Hickman, resulting in the incredible story arcs “House of X/Powers of X,” written by Hickman alongside Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva. In this storyline, Magneto and Charles Xavier set a plan into motion that would see the X-Men and mutant race establish their own nation on Krakoa. This act triggers the Orchis Initiative, an international group of super-intelligence agencies, who aim to eradicate the mutant race. “House of X” focuses on the nation-building and conflicts that arise, while “Powers of X” takes readers through the past, present, and future to explain how the plan was put into action and what it could mean for the future. Although the Krakoa Era declined in quality as it progressed, particularly after Hickman’s departure, “House of X/Powers of X” remains a remarkable story worth reading.

2) The Apocalypse Twins Saga

As Hickman was penning his exceptional take on the Avengers, Remender was assigned his own Avengers comic series. Unlike the others, this team, dubbed the Unity Squad, aimed to forge connections between the Avengers and X-Men. The initial storyline, “The Red Shadow,” presented the team members – Captain America, Havok, Wolverine, Wasp, Rogue, Thor, Sunfire, Scarlet Witch, and Wonder Man – but it wasn’t until Uncanny Avengers #6-23, written by Remender alongside Daniel Acuna, Adam Kubert, and Steve McNiven, that the book truly found its footing. This phase connected to Remender’s Uncanny X-Force, as the offspring of Archangel and Pestilence, who were subjected to a future mutant detention camp by Kang for hardening to annihilate the Avengers, launched their attack on humanity. At the same time, the simmering feud between the X-Men and Avengers threatened to consume the team from within. Similar to Hickman’s Avengers, this is a big idea Avengers series brimming with action, surprises, and suspense that will keep readers on tenterhooks. This type of Avengers tales had been absent since “The Kang Dynasty” in the early 2000s, and it left many fans elated.

1) Secret Wars (2015)

As a dedicated Marvel enthusiast, I must say that one of my all-time favorite event comics hails from the 2010s – “Secret Wars” (2015), penned by Jonathan Hickman and illustrated by Esad Ribic. This epic tale serves as the grand finale to Hickman’s tenures on both Fantastic Four and Avengers, where the Incursions clash Earth-616 with Earth-1610, the old Ultimate Universe. The result is the devastation of both realms, but the story doesn’t end there. The narrative continues with a brand new universe under the rule of God Emperor Doom. Yet, survivors from the two destroyed Earths emerge in this realm, determined to challenge Doom. While reading Hickman’s previous works on Avengers and New Avengers beforehand certainly enriches the experience, it isn’t strictly necessary (though it does enhance the story significantly, so I’d suggest giving them a read).

“Secret Wars” (2015) represents Marvel’s most ambitious attempt to rival DC’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” offering readers an unforgettable cosmic adventure. It also provides a deep character study of Doctor Doom, revealing both his strengths and vulnerabilities. Simply put, “Secret Wars” (2015) is a thrilling journey that any Marvel fan will adore.

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2025-08-06 23:54